Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia) terrorists continue shelling positions of Syrian government troops in the province of Aleppo, Homs and Latakia seeking to breakdown the ceasefire regime

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Gunmen of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization continue shelling of settlements and positions of Syrian government troops in the province of Aleppo, Homs and Latakia seeking to breakdown the ceasefire regime, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said in a regular daily bulletin posted on the Russia’s Defense Ministry’s Facebook account.

According to the bulletin, an attempted offensive in the province of Latakia was repelled. Gunmen had to retreat sustaining considerable losses.

"The settlements of Ard al-Jaburin, Mzan and Skalbia in the province of Homs came under shelling from mortars and self-made multiple missile launcher systems. Seven civilians were killed and 27 more were wounded," the center said.

"After preliminary bombardment gunmen attempted an offensive on the Syrian government troops’ positions near the settlement of Nahshebba in the province of Latakia. The terrorists had to retreat towards the village of Barza-Tahtani having sustained considerable losses," the center said.

No air strikes were delivered by the Russian air group and the Syrian air force at armed opposition groups which have declared cessation of hostilities and referred their coordinates to the Russian or U.S. reconciliation centers, the bulletin says.

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.